Rapunzel's Revenge

Bibliography



Hale, Shannon and Dean. Ill. by Nathan Hale. 2008. Rapunzel's Revenge. New York, NY: Bloomsberry. ISBN 15999007o.

Plot Summary

Rapunzel has been trapped in a tower for too long, and now that she has freed herself, she wants revenge. Not just for herself or her real mother, who she has been kept away from her entire life, but for everyone who has been treated badly by "Mother" Gothel. Rapunzel, assisted by her new found sidekick Jack (of hte Beanstalk variety) get themselves into trouble and find their way out of it while they seek the revenge Rapunzel so deserves.

Critical Analysis

In Rapunzel's Revenge we are introduced to a new type of Rapunzel. In the classic tale, Rapunzel is a typical damsel in distress who is rescued by her prince and lives happily ever after. Shannon and Dean Hale have created an empowering character that knows what she wants and is going to do what she can to get it...usually while helping he sidekick (from the beanstalk) get out of trouble. The characters in this story are easily relatable to people of all ages and background. Nathan Hale has done a wonderful job of creating a cast of characters that span many different cultures. Shannon and Dean have created a strong female and a quirky con man male that balance each other well. Jack's humor allows the reader to experience Rapunzel's wit and Rapunzel brings out the adventurer in Jack.

The plot of Rapunzel's Revenge is one that is easy to follow. The beginning of the story finds the reader in familiar territory reading of a girl who has been taken from her mother and rasied by "Mother" Gothel until Rapunzel discovers the truth and is promptly placed in a high tower for safe keeping. At this point in the story, the classic tale changes. Instead of waiting to be rescued by her prince charming, Rapunzel uses her long locks to swing out of the tower and rescue her real mother from the depth of the mines. Rapunzel finds herself smack day in the middle of the old west with a goofy, dress wearing sidekick named Jack. The odd due find themselves traveling from town to town getting into trouble, as to be expected. Rather than the male always coming to the rescue of the female though, it is often Rapunzel's smarts that get her and Jack out of trouble. In the end good prevails over evil and Rapunzel is able to save her mother and put and end to Gothel. She happens to fall in love with her partner in crime while she's at it as well.



The author kept in the style of the wild west action adventure throughout the entirety of the book giving Rapunzel phrases such as "Well, I'll be swigger-jiggered and hung out to dry." While the talk was written in the first person perspective of Rapunzel, the illustrations would often tell another story, the true story. A shining example of this would be on pg. 34 when Rapunzel is describing her escape from the tree. She claims "I managed to lasso the tree...swing gracefully from my prison...climb down the tree's branches...and land triumphantly on the forest floor." However, Nathan has shown us the reality with a falling Rapunzel crashing to the forest floor. Hale's illustrations did a marvelous job of showing the details like the one previously described when the story needed it, but also showing the whole of the situation to help guide the readers on their journey through the wild west.

Review Excerpts


Reviews:

"The dialogue is witty, the story is an enticing departure from the original, and the illustrations are magically fun and expressive." -School Library Journal

"This graphic novel retelling of the fairy-tale classic, set in a swashbuckling Wile West, puts action first and features some serious girl power in its spunky and strong heroine...Hale's art matches the story well, yielding expressinve characters and lending a wonderful sense of place to the fantasy landscape. Rich with humor and excitement, this is an alternate version of a classic that will become a fast favorite of young readers." -Booklist

Awards:
-ALA 2009 Notable Children's Book
-YALSA 2009 Great Graphic Novel for Teens
-Cybil Award Winner

Connections:

Book Trailer for Rapunzel's Revenge
Shannon Hale's Official Site
Rapunzel's Revenge Reader's Theater
Rapunzel (Original Version) teaching guide

Other book by Shannon Hale
-Calamity Jack
-Austenland
-The Actor and the Housewife
-Princess Academy